Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 1/22/2009
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) TNA X-Division Champion Alex Shelley defeated Sheik Abdul Bashir, Chris Sabin & Sonjay Dutt
2.) ODB defeated Sojournor Bolt by disqualification
3.) Booker T & Scott Steiner defeated Eric Young & Petey Williams in an elimination match
4.) TNA Tag Team Champions Beer Money Inc. (Storm & Roode) defeated Abyss & Matt Morgan in a non-title first blood match
5.) AJ Styles defeated Kurt Angle in a tables match
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Dutt and Bashir bail to the floor to start the match leading to Sabin and Shelley to square off. Shelley gains wrist control and gets a two count. Sabin counters for a two count and they have a standoff. Dutt and Bashir attack to gain the advantage. Dutt is sent into Bashir and Dutt is sent to the floor. Bashir is double teamed by the Guns with kicks to the chest. Dutt taunts the fans before working over Shelley in the corner. Shelley dropkicks Dutt to the floor off the apron. Bashir decks Sabin and Dutt yanks Shelley off the apron. Bashir slams Sabin followed by an elbow drop. Bashir and Dutt work over Sabin in the ring to keep control of the bout. Sabin is met with double elbows and Bashir tries for a cover. Dutt chokes Sabin over the middle rope and Bashir does the same. Dutt stands on Sabin’s back before taunting the fans. Dutt knocks Shelley to the floor again. Sabin fights off both Dutt and Bashir and leg sweeps Bashir to the mat. Dutt gets a rollup on Sabin, but is sent to the floor. Bashir tries for a cover, but Shane Sewell is distracted by Val. Dutt dropkicks Bashir to the floor. Sabin kicks Dutt, but misses a charge in the corner is met with a kick. Dutt leg drops Sabin over the middle rope. Shelley nails Dutt with a clothesline. Bashir kicks Shelley for a two count.
Sharmell has come down to ringside to watch the match. Dutt plants Shelley with a DDT for a two count. Dutt shoulder rams Sabin in the corner and delivers a boot. Sabin tries for a middle rope head scissors, but is caught and dropkicked by Shelley. Shelley manages to get a cradle on Dutt as Bashir and Sabin go to the floor. Shelley manages to keep Dutt down and wins the match to retain the title. After the match, Sharmell tells Shane that Booker T wants to see him in the locker room right now. (**. I didn’t like the flow to the match for some reason. The dynamic was noted as being basically two teams in a four way match, but that wasn’t the hinderance. It never felt like it truly got going.)
2.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Booker T and Sharmell as Booker is meeting with Shane Sewell. Booker invites Shane to sit on his couch. Booker tells Shane to relax. Booker reminds Shane he’s been in the business for seventeen years and notes he’s seen Shane’s work. However, they do things differently here. Booker thinks Shane did something out of order and is upset Shane put his hands on him at Genesis. Booker says that is grounds for an ass whooping, but Sharmell calms Booker down. Booker tells Shane a favor is worth a favor. Booker notes that Shane is the referee for his match tonight. Booker needs Shane to do him a favor tonight and says he needs himself, Scott Steiner and Petey Williams to be the final three. Booker says Shane could be their help in the Mafia in terms of driving cards and other chores. Shane walks off without saying a word.
3.) Main Event Mafia make their way down to the ring to cut a promo. Kurt Angle talks about last weeks Impact and says it ended the way they hadn’t planned. Angle says there are worst consequences. Angle notes that Team 3D is in Japan and Foley is in England. Angle says it will start with Petey Williams and end with AJ Styles tonight. Angle admits they underestimated Petey Williams and he came back seeking revenge on Scott Steiner. Angle says this isn’t Oz and munchkins don’t run here. This is Impact and this is the house the Mafia built. Angle promotes the tag match later on. Angle says when the dust settles it will be the Mafia and Petey Williams in the ring. Sting is looking rather conflicted during this. Angle brings up being put through a table last week, which the crowd pops for. Angle tells Styles that payback is a bitch. Angle promises to whoop Styles ass tonight and put AJ through a table. Angle believes the Mafia will take out Styles forever. Angle wants to know who died and made Team 3D the bookers and making PPV matches. Angle doesn’t care how many titles they won, they can take the titles and shove it up their asses. Angle says they will not be wrestling Team 3D in singles matches.
Sting chimes in and sarcastically calls Angle ‘Mr. Godfather.” Sting says he will speak for himself and since this is about respect nobody will tell him who he can and can’t wrestle. Sting whispers something into Angle’s ear. Jim Cornette makes his way out to the stage to join the segment. Cornette agrees that Team 3D can’t make matches in TNA, but he can. Cornette reveals that the matches will not be singles matches at Against All Odds. Instead, it will be a four way match where TNA World Champion Sting defends against Brother Ray, Brother Devon and Kurt Angle. Cornette says the best way to win a four way is to have two guys team up and then the other guy takes the sacrifice for the other. Cornette asks if Sting and Kurt Angle can work together. Cornette laughs after noting there could be a death in the family at Against All Odds.
4.) Earlier today, Petey Williams was interviewed. Williams says it is personal between himself and Scott Steiner. Williams says Steiner has made a living bullying people and tells Steiner he’s not going to be bullied. Williams suggests Steiner worry about tonight and not worry about the past or future. Williams finishes off calling Steiner a bitch.
5.) Team 3D join the show via satellite from Japan where they’ve won the IWGP Tag Team Championships. They are only the second American tag team to win the tag titles. Devon believes this proves they are the best tag team ever. Brother Ray compares the title win to winning the tag titles in Madison Square Garden. Team 3D find out they will not be having singles matches, but rather a four way for the TNA World Championship. Ray will do what he has to do to get his hands on Sting and the world title. Ray reminds us that Sting did nothing and that upsets him more than being attacked. They note this isn’t the first time Team 3D has fought and won’t be the last. Ray is asked who will win the title, but his microphone cuts off an the segment ends.
6.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with the Main Event Mafia, minus Kurt Angle. Borash asks Sting what happened earlier with Angle and how that could impact Against All Odds. Sting says this is all about respect. Sting doesn’t appreciate Borash disrespecting him by trying to stir stuff up. Sting promises they are family and Angle is brother. They are on the same page. This is all about respect. Sting wants Team 3D to remember that because there’s enough respect to go around for everyone. Scott Steiner chimes in and believes he’s unstoppable when he trains for one person. Steiner is mad about Petey Williams costing him last week and says Williams will pay a lot for that interference. Steiner will not be responsible for what happens tonight. Booker finishes off by saying respect and walks off with Sharmell.
7.) TNA Roughcut focusing on Sojo Bolt is next. Bolt has always had confidence and her mother didn’t raise her to not have confidence. We see footage from Slammiversary where Bolt made her debut to challenge Kong in a $25k challenge. Bolt claims she’s the real deal despite having blonde hair and fake nails. However, she’s going to kick your ass. Borash believes Bolt has earned Kong’s respect now that they are aligned. Bolt looks into the camera and addresses women saying if they want it they have to work for it. If they want to be at the top, they will have to meet her in the ring.
8.) Bolt attacks ODB from behind and knee strikes ODB over the back while ODB is against the ropes. Bolt kicks ODB on the mat several times focusing on ODB’s thigh. ODB responds with chops in the corner, but Bolt delivers a clothesline out of the corner. Bolt tries for a cover, but ODB kicks out. Bolt snapmares ODB and dropkicks a seated ODB. Bolt heads to the middle rope, but misses a splash. ODB plays to the crowd and strikes Bolt several times. ODB clotheslines Bolt followed by a back elbow. ODB clotheslines Bolt and sends Bolt into the ropes to hit a flapjack. ODB prevents Bolt from leaving the ring and delivers another strike. ODB hits a Thez Press, but Awesome Kong comes out and kicks ODB to cause a disqualification. Kong hits the Implant Buster on ODB. After the match, Taylor Wilde and Roxxi rundown and make the save with a pipe and chair in hand. (*. It would have been such a comical thing for TNA to do if Bolt had lost the match cleanly after putting a spotlight on her. There wasn’t much to this match, but it appears as if there’s going to be a focus on a six Knockout tag or something.)
9.) Backstage, Lauren interviews the Governor. Lauren was so impressed by Governor’s ability to play the part of Sarah Palin. Governor switches up and talks normally, but it attacked by Angelina Love and Velvet Sky! Love sends Governor into a case. Sky whacks Governor over the back with a 2×4. Governor continues to be beaten down all over the backstage area. Security finally runs over. Cute Kip runs over and takes out security before saying she’s had enough. (For those unaware, the Governor was played by Daffney of WCW fame.)
10.) Booker and Young kickoff the match with booker working over Young in the corner. Booker sends Young across the ring, but Young fires back with right hands. Booker knee lifts Young and tags in Steiner. Steiner kicks Young in the midsection and delivers a scoop slam. Steiner sends Young into the corner and delivers a chop. Steiner hip tosses Young across the ring. Steiner taunts Williams on the apron before driving Young into the corner and delivers another chop. Steiner misses Young in the corner. Young atomic drops Steiner and hits a forearm smash for a two count. Steiner prevents a tag to Williams and tags Booker back into the match. Booker forearms Young and tries for a suplex. Young manages to counter with a suplex of his own. Booker elbows Young coming off the ropes. Steiner attacks Young from behind and argues with Shane. Booker nails Young with a scissors kick and pins Young for the first elimination. The show goes to commercial as Williams is by himself now.
Steiner stomps Williams on the mat several times. During the break, Williams was beaten down by Steiner. Steiner scoop slams Williams and taunts the crowd. Williams avoids being sent to the floor and punches Steiner a few times. Steiner dumps Williams to the apron, but Williams hits a slingshot Codebreaker. Williams pummels Steiner on the mat with strikes. Steiner bails to the floor to regroup. Booker returns to the match and backs Williams against the ropes with knee lifts. Booker chops Williams and misses a heel kick. Williams dropkicks Booker for a one count. Booker plants Williams with a spinebuster for a near fall. Steiner stomps Williams on the mat. Steiner tries for a slam, but Williams counters hitting a jawbreaker. Williams drop toe holds Steiner over the middle rope and hits a dropkick to the back. Williams forearms Steiner in the corner. Steiner runs into a boot in the corner. Williams plants Steiner with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Williams signals for the Destroyer, but Booker nails Williams with a superkick. Steiner sits Williams on the top turnbuckle and hits a fallaway slam. Steiner covers, but pulls Williams up at the count of two. Booker returns to the match and kicks Williams before hitting the scissors kick. Booker tells Shane to do his job and pulls Williams up at the count of two. Shane is getting upset with this behavior. Booker kicks Williams and hits the scissors kick again. Booker covers and pins Williams for the win. (**. It’s a fine segment, but it’s clear that there’s only a select few in the Frontline stable that are viable threats to the Mafia. Williams and Young are not part of that threat to the Mafia.) After the match, Booker slaps Shane. Shane responds with chops and strikes on Booker. Steiner helps Booker striking Shane to the mat. Booker hits the Book End on Shane. Earl Hebner comes out and yells from the apron to try and help Shane.
11.) Lauren is in the ring to interview Matt Morgan and Abyss. Lauren notes that Morgan has a temper and he it out on Abyss recently. Morgan admits he has a temper and knows that it has cost him throughout his career. Morgan thinks he may have lost his best friend due to his attitude. Morgan is out there and owes Abyss an apology. Morgan says that Abyss has had nothing to do with their issues and it’s all on him. Morgan is there to beg for his forgiveness. Morgan wants to move on and believes they will be the TNA Tag Team Championships. Morgan wants to settle for Beer Money’s blood. Abyss accepts Morgan’s hand and they embrace. Abyss tells Morgan it is okay and accepts his apology. Abyss has a bad problem with his temper and that’s why he goes to therapy. Abyss thinks they could go to therapy together. Morgan seems open to the idea. Abyss could get a special two for one coupon. Abyss is happy to have his best friend Morgan and his girlfriend Lauren. Abyss lifts Lauren up for a hug and spins her around.
12.) Morgan and Abyss brawl with Beer Money on the ramp to kickoff the first blood match. Abyss rams Roode onto the ring steps face first. Morgan is brawling with Storm in the crowd. Morgan sends Storm into the wall in the crowd. Morgan misses the Carbon Footprint hitting the wall instead. Storm leaps off the wall to hit a dive onto Morgan. Morgan tosses Storm back to the ringside area. Roode and Abyss are now brawling in the crowd as Morgan and Storm get into the ring. Storm avoids going into the ring and they continue to fight at ringside. Abyss sends Roode into the railing back first. Morgan kicks Storm while Roode has grabbed a chair. Roode gets a chair punched into his face. Morgan sends Storm into the railing ribs first. Abyss wedges the chair into the corner, but is met with a boot. Roode hits a blockbuster off the middle rope on Abyss. Roode pummels Abyss on the mat, but can’t get Abyss to bleed. Roode chops Abyss in the corner several times. Abyss kicks Roode coming out of the corner and sends Roode head first into the wedges chair in the corner. Morgan back elbows Storm several times in the corner.
Morgan misses a clothesline on Storm and catches Storm on a crossbody. Roode nails Morgan with a championship shot to the head. Morgan is covering his head, but he’s not busted open. Abyss delivers a double clothesline. Abyss misses a splash on Storm in the corner. Abyss dumps Storm to the apron where Storm kicks Abyss. Storm waits in the corner, but Abyss blocks a kick and hits a chokeslam. Abyss goes to the floor and grabs a steel chair. Roode chop blocks Abyss from behind. Roode and Storm hit a double suplex on Abyss. Roode grabs a steel chair, but Morgan grabs the chair and misses chair shots on Beer Money. Morgan ends up whacking Abyss over the head with the steel chair. Morgan tells Abyss times up. Abyss is bleeding and thus Beer Money wins. After the match, Morgan taunts Abyss and seems to blame Abyss for this. Morgan pummels Abyss in the corner with stomps. Morgan whacks Abyss with another chair shot to end the segment. (*1/2. The heel turn by Morgan isn’t a surprise. They need to shift Abyss back to being the Abyss of old and if that happens here, then I’m all for it. However, I am not looking forward to their program.)
13.) Backstage, Abyss shoves security away and freaks out throwing stuff around. Abyss shoves the cameraman down, as well.
14.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Kurt Angle for an interview. Borash talks about the violence in TNA, and Angle says Styles is the next chapter. Angle could have ended Styles career numerous times, but he didn’t because he felt sorry for AJ. AJ ruined his family and tonight he’s going to end his career just like he did to Jarrett. Borash asks about Sting, but Angle doesn’t say a word and walks off.
15.) Angle gets wrist lock control on Styles to kickoff the match. Styles counters with a wrist lock, but Angle reaches the ropes. Angle takes Styles down with a headlock to keep control. Styles forearms Angle and hits a dropkick as Angle comes off the ropes. Angle bails to the floor to regroup. Angle sits Styles over the top rope and shoves Styles, but Styles uses his legs to send Angle over with him. Styles leaps off the apron to hit a flying forearm smash on the floor. Styles sets up a table on the floor. Angle runs away and rolls into the ring as the show goes to commercial.
Angle takes Styles over with a snap suplex. Styles strikes Angle a few times, but Angle hits an overhead belly to belly suplex. Angle grabs a table on the floor and slides it into the ring. Styles chops Angle to the mat followed by a right hand. Angle kicks Styles and rams Styles face first onto the table. Angle chokes Styles and we see that Angle has a cut on this right thumb. Styles elbows Angle and chops Angle to break free. Angle knee lifts Styles coming off the ropes. Angle sets up a table in the ring. Angle uppercuts Styles in the corner. Styles strikes Angle from the top rope, but Angle tries for a German suplex, but Styles avoids it and they trade strikes. Styles drops Angle groin first onto the side of the table. Styles strikes Angle to the mat several times followed by a clothesline. Styles splashes Angle in the corner and hits a scoop slam. Styles knee drops Angle and plays to the crowd. Angle uppercuts Styles through the ropes to the floor. Styles springboards off the top rope to forearm smash Angle. Styles sets the table up near the corner. Styles plays to the crowd looking for the Styles Clash, but Angle counters and tries for a double leg slam. Styles breaks free, but Angle puts the ankle lock on Styles. Styles kicks Angle away and nails Angle with the Pele kick.
Styles heads to the top rope, but Angle runs the ropes and stops Styles, but is knocked off. Styles misses a top rope dive and hits his face on the table. Angle takes advantage hitting the Angle Slam through the table to win the match. (**1/2. Obviously these two have had far more incredible matches. I think tables matches are a bit restrictive for these guys an they worked a match that didn’t work well with the stipulation.) After the match, Angle attacks Styles and stomps Styles left foot on a steel chair. Angle puts the ankle lock on Styles. Angle goes to the commentary table and grabs a microphone. Angle asks what they are afraid of. Angle says tonight is the beginning of the end of TNA. Angle is going to take every wrestler out one by one starting next week. Angle stands on the commentary table and says he’s on top of the world.
Final Thoughts:
Storyline wise it was a fine episode. They are gradually showing Sting’s frustration with the Mafia message and he’s not completely onboard. The dynamic is interesting that Sting is the champion, but Angle is clearly the leader of the Mafia. Action wise, there wasn’t much to be invested in or enjoy. I don’t mind the heavy focus on angles especially when they are done fairly well, and I think they were done fairly well this week.
Thanks for reading.